While every day is a great day to thank a veteran or solider, it’s especially important today to acknowledge the military men and women you know. They may be a loved one, a co-worker, or a friend. Acknowledge their service and give them a sense of support and validation for the sacrifices they made to protect us. The service, dedication, and heroism our veterans showed while protecting our Nation’s freedom and rights is to not be taken for granted. As one quote states, “We don't know them all, but we owe them all.”

Below are some interesting facts you may not be aware of regarding our veterans in the United States:

• 19 million living veterans served during at least one war as of April 2021.

• 11 percent of veterans are women.

• As of today, of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, approximately 240,000 are still alive.

While Veterans Day is a time to thank a veteran, it’s also a good time to acknowledge the families and friends of veterans. Being a military spouse, child, friend, or loved one is not easy now, nor was it in the past. When thanking a veteran today, whether they are young or old, remember to thank their loved ones if they were with them during their commitment to the military. Families of those serving live on an emotional rollercoaster and can go months without seeing their loved one while they are deployed. Something as simple as an email or text to a spouse of a veteran or actively serving soldier to say you are thinking of them and are grateful for their sacrifice can mean so much.

At CertaSite, this special day means much more to us than only a holiday. We value this day and what it means to our country, co-workers, and their families. We’re fortunate to work with veterans on a daily basis. While it should be a daily practice, Veterans Day is the perfect day to thank a soldier or veteran, and we are grateful for the veterans who work at CertaSite, including our CEO Jeff Wyatt.

Jeff Wyatt, CEO

Jeff is a veteran of the United States Navy. As an interior communications electrician, Jeff served on the USS John Marshall SSN 611 submarine from 1986 – 1989. He received the sea service award, good conduct medal, and received a letter of commendation during one of his deployments to the Mediterranean Sea. Jeff was promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class prior to his honorable discharge. Jeff’s work in the navy as a communications electrician is what first drew him to the fire and life safety industry. Jeff is just one of many CertaSite veterans, and today we want to say thank you to all veterans, especially those at CertaSite.

A Special Thank You to All of Our CertaSite Veterans

• Bill Holmes – Navy, 24 years
• Brandon Keeler – Army, 4 years
• Cam Lewis – Navy, 4 years
• Chad Vander Hyden – Army, 6 years
• Charles Plume – Army, 6 years
• Chet Carmichael – Air Force, 4 years
• Chris Ronfeldt – National Guard, 20.5 years
• Corey Slick – Navy, 5 years
• Donna Mitchell – Army, 3 years
• Doug Keller – Navy, 6 years
• Eric Makarewicz – Army, 6 years
• Jason Evinsky – Navy, 2.5 years
• Joshua Munday – Army, 7 years
• Marcus Cleary – Army, 8 years
• Mark Altenburg – Navy, 4 years
• Matthew Bauman – Army, 6 years
• Michael Wickman – Navy, 24 years
• Nicholas Snyder – Air Force, 3.5 years
• Nicholas Warunek – Air Force, 4 years
• Rich Kendle – Navy, 4 years
• Timothy Slaughter – Navy, 10.5 years
• Tom Diesel – Marines, 6 years
• Zack Mosely – Air Force, 4 years